Not a very inspiring title? Here’s the thing… Hebden Bridge is an awesome little town. But like all little towns it’s fighting its battles. There’s the traffic (flood prevention works continue to strangle us). There’s the parking. There’s the rail strikes. Like all small towns – actually even big cities – the high street is struggling to compete with the internet. Folks venture into the shops to try clothes or shoes on, or look at a book, and then walk away and order it cheaper online. It’s not just my local bookshop The Bookcase, but even in a big Waterstones;…

My passion for beautiful books come from my Dad. He read to me every night until I was about 14 I think – though I’m sure I kept quiet about it at school! Even when I’d finished being read to, I’d listen to my little sister’s stories. Her tastes were different; one of her favourites was ‘Minow on the Say’ – Phillipa Pearce. And the Little House books. I was more for Tolkein and Alan Garner. We both loved Moonfleet and Sherlock Holemes. I love reading to my children, and Becky loves to read to hers. Hattie and I read…

I’m tidying up! Ready to open the doors on my little studio on Friday July 6th. Please come along and say hello. I have many new things to show you! Lanterns, cards, note books and NEW Calendars! So new I don’t have them yet. But I have seen a proof, and I’ve been promised they’ll be here by opening time of Friday (they do look nice. I’m very pleased). There will be framed and unframed prints (this one above is ‘Friday Morning’, from my recent Craggs & Fells’ exhibition at Heart Gallery. There will also be some new original pieces,…

Such a lovely evening last Thursday, for the preview of Craggs & Fells at Heart Gallery. Sunshine was promised, but never materialised. Which makes it all the more amazing that this lovely and determined lady pitched up at lunchtime to bag her place at the front of the queue. The Heart Gallery Dream Team were ready with the warm welcome and the Prosecco…. Ready for action Mandy and Bart? Others seemed to be a little camera shy on Thursday! Cold outside. Warm and colourful inside. I have to introduce you to my own dream team: My Studio Fairy Nancyann (who…

So, this is what we’re hanging tomorrow, ready for Thursday’s preview at Heart Gallery: I hope you like them… All my pictures are done on watercolour paper in a combination of inks, acrylics, gouache, watercolours, gold thread, 23 carat gold leaf, coloured pencil and sometimes some pastel too, for good measure. Really I like to use beautiful colours, in whatever pot, tube, bottle or stick they happen to come in! Break in the Clouds Framed Size:106 x 87cm – £ SOLD The Piece Hall Framed Size:106 x 87cm – £ SOLD Late Summer Framed Size:87 x 106cm – £…

It really is – only a week to go. Last night I had my first anxiety dream. Heart Gallery had put my work in the basement, 3 floors below, and the lights weren’t working. I’d forgotten to get changed. Someone gave me a baby to carry that was screaming and in need of a change. I had one a few years ago where, upon going to to the framers to collect my work, found that he’d mounted them all on black sugar-paper, like in GCSE Art… Anyway – lighting, basement steps and screaming babies allowing, Craggs & Fells is a…

I’ve made something new! I like little things. I also love handmade books and origami; so this is all sorts of things I love… These images were inspired by a camping trip in Brittany last year. I spent a lot of time looking up through the branches of trees and did some little watercolours on the beach with Hattie. I began with 4, but kept on adding them as they were such fun to do. Each folding book is made up of 8 giclée printed panels on heavy watercolour paper. The front cover has a gilded block signature, and a…

A couple of Saturdays ago I started the weekend in a very black mood. A combination of another wet, cold weekend, without light in the valley, and probably some squabbling children. I took myself out of the house and found this little ‘Observers Book of Birds Eggs’ in an antiques shop. Those little range of books are so lovely; i remember them from when I was small. It gave me a little idea. The nest is one I found in the courtyard last year; blown down from the ivy on the old mill chimney. It’s full of turquoise fibres and…

The last week of the Christmas holiday was grim and grey, but the forecast for the last weekend looked suddenly bright and cold. We all bundled in the car to the East coast in search of some Whitby air to blow the Christmas cobwebs away. I always think that the last minute trips are the best kind. No expectation. No plans. Everything is a bonus. I love winter light on the sea. That spectacular cloud is a hail storm heading in our direction… After a night in the youth hostel (where the kids were thrilled because they ALL got a…